Rolling mill



Jan. V6, 1931. J, DE w, TlNsMAN r 1,787,558

ROLLING MILL Filed Nov. 7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l ANU Jan. 6, 1931. J. DE w. TlNsMAN ROLLING MILL Filed Nov. '7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 &

SMAN

Jan. 6, 1931.

Patented Jan. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN DE WITT TIN'SMAN, 0F STEUBENVILLE, OHIO .ROLLING MILL application mea November 7, 1927. serial No. 231,543.

The invention r'elates to rolling mills more particularly for use in rolling long, relatively thin, and relatively wide strips for making what has become known as strip sheets, or

any other similar products.

In the manufacture of such strips, the maximum width of material which is known by me to have been rolled is 36 inches. The advantages of the continuous manufacture of strip sheetsfrom continuously rolled strips are such as to warrant the manufacture if possible of wider strips so that wider strip sheets may be offered in vplace of the wider vsheets made according to old vsheet rolling practices.

A principal diiiculty encountered in rolling wide strips has been the inability of rolling mills, as ordinarily constructed, to maintain the required gauge across the full width .of the strips rolled thereby; and the frequent breakage of rolls mounted in accordance with present practice.

The objects of the present improvements include, accordingly, the provision of a rolling mill adapted for properly rolling material, the width of which may be from a desired minimum to a desired maximum of one hundred inches or more; by positively controlling the reducing rolls of the mill for maintaining the required gauge across the full Width of the strip.

This is accomplishedby providing a plurality of sets of pairs of backing rolls, bearing directly against the barrel of theA reducing rolls, and supported by a saddle bearing against the frame with an axial universal joint, together with spacing rolls and side bearings to keep the rolls of the mill in proper position.

A preferredembodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure'l is a front elevation of one of the improved rolling mills;

Fig. 2, a side'elevation thereof; and

Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view thereof, as on line 3-3, Figl. Y

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The improved rolling mill indicated generally at 10, includes a frame or housing 11 comprising laterally spaced vertically extending side members 12a and 126, a top member 120 and a bottom member 12d, the ends of the members being preferably integrally joinedwith each other, as by making the frame a unitary casting.

Supporting feet 13a and 136 outwardly extend respectively from the side members 12a and 126, and the feet 13a and 136 are provided, respectively, with downwardly opening longitudinally extending grooves 14a and 146 for seating over, respectively, and being secured to as by means of bolts 15, suitable laterally spaced longitudinally extending supporting shoe plates 16a and 166 which are mounted, respectively, on suitable foundations 17a and 176.

Upper and lower reducing rolls 18 and 18 are mounted for controlled rotation in the frame 11, as hereinafter set forth in detail; for rolling a strip or other material passed between the rolls 18 and 18 accurately to the required gauge across the full width of the strip, regardless of the Width thereof.

The upper frame member 120 is provided with a plurality of laterally spaced vertically extending apertures 19, and the lower frame member 12d is llikewise provided opposite the apertures 19, with a plurality of laterally spaced vertically extending apertures 19.

Each aperture 19 is provided with an internally threaded thrust bushing 20, and each aperture 19 is provided with a similar bushin 20.

crews 21 and 21 are adjustably screwed, respectively, in the bushings 20-and 20'; and the screws 21 and 21 are provided,respec tively, with inner ball heads 22 and 22 which lit, respectively, in sockets 22a and 22a in saddle yokes 23 and 23', respectively, thus providing ball and socket universal bearing joints between the yokes and the frame, in the axis of the saddle joint.

Each saddle yoke 23 and 23 has journalled therein, preferably by roller bearings 24 and 24', a pair of'backing rolls 25 and 25', located, respectively, on'opposite sides of the vertical center line of the mill.

Each backing roll 2.5 is in rollingcontact with the barrel of the upper reducing roll 18;

and each backing roll 25 is in rolling Contact with the barrel of the lower reducing roll 18'; thus each pair of backing rolls is supported by the saddle through the universal joint and the screw 21 and 21', locatedv in the center line of the mill, to absorb the rolling pressure of the reducing roll, directly from the barrel of the reducing roll, directly through the body of the backing roll. instead of through end necks thereof as in present practice.

The reducing rolls 18 and 18 may be provided With outwardly extending bearing ends 0r necks 18a and 186, and 18a and 186. On each side of the end portions, preferably between the adjacent necks of the reducing rolls, is provided a spacing bearing which may be a roller, as 26a and 2670; and the spacing rollers are located in rolling and spacing Contact with both necks or ends of the reducing rolls.

The spacing rollers 26a and 26?) are each journalled in a bearing bracket 27, and each bracket 27 is yieldingly mounted on the frame 11, as by ,means of a piston rod 28, laterally extending from the bracket into a iiuid cylinder 29 in one of the frame side members, each cylinder being connected With suitable fluid pressure means, whereby a suitable oil or hydraulic pressure is maintained in the cylinder. y

The spacing bearings or rollers keep the reducing rolls and the backing rolls in proper position, and prevent a umping of the upper rolls; by carrying the same upward firmly against the frame or housing supports with a sufficient pressure to accomplish said purpose.

On each side of each end of each reducing roll, preferably against the necks thereof, is provided a side bearing 30, which may be mounted in a chuckl, and adjusted by a screw 32, in well known manner. These bearings serve to hold the reducing rolls in proper lateral position, and may be adjusted to any desired position.

Means may be provided for Water cooling the backing up rolls, as by providing an axial bore 33 therein, and supplying cooling water through ports as 34.

The pairs of backing rolls, bearing directly onfthe barrels of the reducing rolls, are so located and spaced as to uniformly support the reducing rolls throughout the length thereof, regardless of the expansion and contraction of the reducing rolls.

The location of the universal joints which comprise the bearing supports for the hacking rolls opposite the barrel of the reducing rolls, eliminates any springing of the reducing rolls` and reduces the breakage thereof; and gives a more uniform gauge in the 1natc rial rolled by the mill.

The universal bearing supports for the pairs of backing rolls enables the saddle yokes and the pairs of backing rolls to conform to any wea-ving of the reducing rolls so as to equalize the pressure of the backing rolls against the reducing rolls and accommodates any expansion and contract-ion of the reducing rolls.

It is understood that it is not'l essential for the purposes of the present invention that the housing for the mill shall be located in the vertical position. e

I claim: v

`1. A rolling mill including a housing, a reducing roll mounted in the housing, a, plurality of saddle yokes adjacent the barrel of the reducing roll, a pair of backing rolls journalled in each saddle yoke and bearin onthe reducing roll at an end thereof, an an axial bearing for each saddle yoke in the housing comprising a universal joint opposite the barrel of the reducing roll. I

2. A rolling mill including a housing, re-

ducing rolls mounted in the housing, a saddle yoke adjacent the barrel of each reducingroll, a pair of backing rolls journalled in each saddle yoke and bearing on the adjacent reducing roll at an end thereof, and an axial bearing for each saddle yoke in the housing comprisin g a universal joint opposite the barrel of the adjacent reducing roll.

3. A rolling mill including a housing, reducing rolls mounted in the housing, a plurality of saddle yokes adjacent the barrel of each reducing roll, a pair of backing rolls journalled in each saddle yoke and bearing on the adjacent reducing roll at an end thereof, and an axial bearing for each saddle yoke in the housing comprising a universal joint opposite the barrel of the adjacent reducing roll.

4. A rolling mill including a housing, reducing rolls mounted in the housing, a saddle yoke adjacent the barrel Yof each reducing roll, a pair of backing rolls journalled in each saddle yoke and bearing on the adjacent reducing roll, an axial bearing for each saddle yoke in the Housing comprising a universal joint opposite the barrel of the adjacent reducing roll, and spacing rolls on each side at each end bearing on the reducing roll.

5. A rolling mill including a housing, reducing rolls mounted in the housing, a saddle yoke adjacent the barrel of each reducing roll, a pair of backing rolls journalled in each saddle yoke and bearing on the adja cent reducing roll, an axial bearing for each saddle voke in the housing comprising a universal joint opposite the barrel of the adjacent reducing roll, and spacing bearings on each side at each end of the reducing rolls for positioning the rolls.

6. A rolling mill including a housing, reducing rolls mounted in the housing, a saddle yoke adjacent the barrel of each reducing ro11,.a pair of backing rolls journalled in each saddle yoke and bearing on the adjacent reducing roll, an axial bearing for each saddle yoke in the housing comprising` a universal joint opposite the barrel of the adjacent reducing roll, and bearings on each side at the ends of each reducing roll.

7. A rolling mill including a housi ducing roll mounted in the housing, a saddle yoke adjacent the barrel of the reducing roll, a pair of backing rolls journalled in the saddie yoke and bearing on the reducing roll, I1nd an axial bearing for the saddle yoke in the housing comprising a. universal joint opposite the barrel of the reducing roll.

In testimony that claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN DE WITT TINSMAN.

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